Description
Beaulieu Heights is on woodland that was once part of the Great North Wood before it formed the grounds of two large houses, Hazelwood and Beaulieu Lodge. Much of the land in the area was owned by the Archbishops of Canterbury. A map of 1870 shows woodland at that time of a very similar extent to that in the area today. Croydon Council purchased Hazelwood and Beaulieu Lodge from the Church Commissioners in 1938 and the park was opened to the public after WWII.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | Hazelwood and Beaulieu Lodge |
|---|---|
| Site location | South Norwood Hill/Auckland Road/Church Road |
| Postcode | SE19 2DT |
| What3Words | ///palm.bucket.inch |
| Type of Site | Public Park |
| Borough | Croydon |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | 8am Mon-Fri/9am weekends - dusk |
| Facilities | Toilets adjacent to park entrance in Church Road |
| Public Transport | Bus: 468 |
| Research Updated | 1 December 2008 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Beaulieu Heights is set on a slope that runs from Church Road to Auckland Rise. The woodland was part of the Great North Wood but more recently the grounds of two large houses, Hazelwood and Beaulieu Lodge. Thomas Bainbridge's map of Croydon in 1800 shows the area in the ownership of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the 1870 map shows the woodland of very similar extent to today's area. The same map shows Beaulieu Mansion and gardens, which are still in private use. The Mansion, which is now an old people's home, served as a hotel for many years. Hazelwood was built in considerable splendour in c.1860 by a Dr Butter, who had returned, evidently with some wealth, after a career in India. According to an estate agent's brochure of 1878 the gardens of Hazelwood were laid out under the supervision of Sir Joseph Paxton, and included an attractive lithographed view and quite detailed plans of the house and the garden. Although confirmation of Paxton's involvement is yet to come, it is quite possible that Dr Butter might have consulted him, since the site is about a mile from Paxton's home, Rockhills, next to the Crystal Palace.
Croydon Council purchased Hazelwood and Beaulieu Lodge from the Church Commissioners in 1938 and it was opened to the public after WWII. A fire in 1976 destroyed much of the oak woodland, although recolonisation by plants and animals has recommenced. A traditional old walled garden was once situated here, outside the area of the current park.
Croydon Council purchased Hazelwood and Beaulieu Lodge from the Church Commissioners in 1938 and it was opened to the public after WWII. A fire in 1976 destroyed much of the oak woodland, although recolonisation by plants and animals has recommenced. A traditional old walled garden was once situated here, outside the area of the current park.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ334695 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 7.08 |
| Site Ownership | LB Croydon |
| Site Management | Parks and Open Spaces |
| Dates | Mid C19; 1938 |
| On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens | No |
| Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965 | No |
| Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931 | No |
| Local Authority | Croydon |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | Church Road, Upper Norwood |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | Yes - Borough Importance II |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
| Other LA Designation | Local Open Land |
Please note the Inventory and its content are provided for your general information only and are subject to change. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy.
Nearby parks and gardens
All Saints church was built in 1827-9 as a Chapel of Ease to Croydon Parish Church of St John the Baptist, established when Upper Norwood was becoming fashionable; the parish of St Margaret was added in 2003. In the churchyard is a memorial to Robert FitzRoy (1805-1865), who entered the Royal Navy at the age of 13 and was later notable as Captain of HMS Beagle in 1831-36, inviting Charles Darwin to accompany the voyage. He was also a noted meteorologist and former Governor of New Zealand.
Beulah Spa developed in the early C19th from a spa where people came to take the waters. On 1 August 1831 the 30-acre site, owned by Mr J D Smith, was opened as a place of entertainment with gardens laid out by Decimus Burton. A wide range of attractions were provided but its popularity began to decline when the Crystal Palace moved to nearby Sydenham in 1854. In May 1858 the Beulah Spa estate was sold by auction and a large mansion called The Lawns was built. In 1939 The Lawns estate was conveyed to Croydon Corporation, NT and the MPGA, covenanted to remain as public open space. The mansion was demolished in the mid-1960s after a fire. The lawn today marks the site of the ornamentat gardens, and the hanging woodland remains through which ornamental walks were laid out.
South Norwood Lake was constructed to supply the London to Croydon Canal, which opened in 1809. No longer viable by 1836 it was purchased by the London & Croydon Railway Co., the canal then drained and used for railway track bed. In 1881 Norwood Sports Club leased 16 acres of land for a cricket field and the lake for fishing, swimming and skating. Further land was acquired and when the club was sold in 1911 its facilities included bowls, cricket and tennis. In 1931 Croydon Corporation purchased 16 acres of land, and the lake and surrounds opened to the public, although the club continued to lease the facilities. In 1933 the Corporation leased 37 acres including the former golf course and bowling green, eventually purchasing it in 1936. In 1969 all the grounds were opened to the public.